SC verdict on Tirupati laddu | Naidu should apologise to people: Jagan

Amaravati, Oct 4 (PTI) Welcoming the Supreme Court’s direction on constituting an independent SIT to conduct a probe into allegations of use of animal fat in making Tirupati laddus, YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu should apologise to people.

Cancelling the Special Investigation Team appointed by the Andhra CM, the Supreme Court has pointed out Naidu's "true picture', he said at a press conference and alleged that Naidu had been spreading lies.

"... When the Supreme Court has passed such comments, if he (Naidu) has any devotion towards God, he should apologise to people. He should pray to Tirumala Venkateswara Swamy that he committed a mistake. He has not done any of it but on top of that they (TDP) are (spreading false information) releasing posts through their twitter handle," Jagan hit out at his opponent.

The Supreme Court has made it clear that God should not be brought into politics. "It is evident from these (Supreme Court) comments and also judgements (sic) pronounced that whatever Chandrababu Naidu has been speaking, the Supreme Court, categorically reprimanded Naidu," he said.

The Supreme Court on Friday said the Special Investigation team (SIT) will comprise two officials each from the CBI and the Andhra Pradesh Police besides a senior FSSAI official.

The bench said the probe by the SIT will be supervised by the CBI Director.

A person who is in the capacity of chief minister is provoking religious sentiments for political malafide intent, Jagan said.

"He (Naidu) does not have devotion or care about God. He can even use the Almighty for political gains," the YSRCP chief said.

"I am praying to God that this sin (Naidu's acts) should not fall on the people of Andhra Pradesh. It should be confined to the CM only and to the alliance that is carrying the burden of Naidu," Jagan said.

Giving the chronological order of the events at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the former chief minister said, the laddu adulteration allegations were aimed at political mileage, and they would degrade temples and prasadam.

According to him, during the previous regime, the ghee was rejected 18 times due to quality issues, while between 2014 and 2019, during Chandrababau Naidu's rule, the tankers were returned 14 times.

The TTD executive officer who was handpicked by Naidu himself said that the adulterated ghee was never used in making laddu prasadam. "Venkateswara Swamy knows how to punish these people," he said.

The Supreme Court has made strong comments on Naidu as it understood that Gods should not be dragged into politics, Jagan said.

Replying to a query on 'Sanatana Dharma' comments made by Deputy Chief Minister Pawana Kalyan, Jagan asked if he knew what it means.

"You are in that alliance. Chandrababu himself committed a mistake. Even a six-year-old boy sees it. When he is creating doubts in the minds of crores of people, you are also part of it. You are also moving forward with spreading those lies. You are talking about 'Sanatana Dharma'. Is it correct what we are doing?," the former CM asked. PTI